NEWBURGH –The Greater Newburgh Interfaith Council is sponsoring an event Thursday Nov. 17 at 11:30 a.m. at Saint George’s Episcopal Church in Newburgh to inform area clergy on the services and needs of the new refugee resettlement office that will open in Poughkeepsie. The office expects to begin resettling families from Syria in a 50 mile radius of Poughkeepsie beginning in January.
Continuing its work to address the demands of the largest displacement crisis in recorded history, Church World Service (CWS)—a global humanitarian organization and one of nine U.S. resettlement agencies— announced it will open a new refugee resettlement office in Poughkeepsie. Already, CWS resettles refugees in three New York State locations: Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.
The office is currently seeking a director and will also be seeking graduate school interns in social work or ministry to volunteer in the Poughkeepsie Office. Interested parties can apply at www. Cwspoughkeepsie.org.
The speaker Nov. 17 at St. George’s will be Brianne Casey, Community and Ecumenical Engagement Coordinator, Immigration and Refugee Program, Church World Service. St. George’s is located at 105 Grand St., Newburgh. The program will end at 1 p.m. For further information contact Greater Newburgh Interfaith Council President the Rev. Chris J. Antal at antal@uuma.org,
Rev. Antal is minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern. Unitarians actively worked to resettle Jews escaping Nazi Germany during WWII and continue similar work today. Earlier this year the UUCRT helped a refugee family from Afghanistan resettle in New York.
“We are eager to engage with a new community to support those most in need, and we very much look forward to working with all of you to welcome refugees ..,” said Sarah Krause, Senior Director for Programs at CWS’ Immigration and Refugee Program.
CWS Poughkeepsie will offer newly arrived refugees comprehensive case management and employment services aimed at building a foundation for long-term self-sufficiency and success in the United States. Services will entail basic needs support, case management, cultural orientation, health access assistance, and job preparation and placement help. For more information about these services, visit cwspoughkeepsie.org.
Staff from CWS’ New York headquarters will visit Poughkeepsie to meet with partner organizations and community members in the coming weeks, holding a public information session on Nov. 10 at Adriance Memorial Library from 4:30 to 7 p.m. . Throughout the event, information will be available about the US Refugee Admissions Program, expected Poughkeepsie neighbors, and opportunities for involvement, with a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m.
Nationwide, CWS’ 34 offices partner with local community organizations, volunteers, and congregations to help refugees resettle and become productive members of their new communities in the U.S. CWS directly administers nine local offices—now including Poughkeepsie—and contracts with an additional 25 affiliate offices.
Over the past 70 years, CWS has helped more than 850,000 refugees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and other immigrants rebuild their lives in the United States. Whether by serving the most vulnerable where they are or by fostering welcoming communities and networks of vitality, CWS has been helping refugees resettle and rebuild ever since it has opened its doors in 1946.
Media Contacts:
Christina Levin 212-870-2188
Megan Cagle 202-733-5151 media@cwsglobal.org
Rev. Chris J. Antal, president
Greater Newburgh Interfaith Council
Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern
845-297-2792
antal@uuma.org